Water-Ski Wipeout

Chapter 1 A CABIN IN THE WOODS
As the tour bus pulled up outside the lodge, Frank and Joe Hardy could see the lake in the distance. Bucks Mountain, the tallest peak near their hometown, Bayport, was right behind it.

“You think we could hike all the way to the top?” Frank asked, turning to his younger brother.

“It’s probably too steep,” eight-year-old Joe replied. “Besides, don’t you want to spend all day out on the boat? That’s why I brought the skis.”

Nine-year-old Frank looked at the luggage rack above them. His brother’s new water skis were tied together on the luggage rack with a bright blue strap. Last summer Joe had started water-skiing at camp. In just a few weeks, he’d gotten really good. He even tried to ski for a few seconds on just one ski—even though he usually ended up in the water! Joe was so excited about waterskiing, this year their parents had bought him his very own set of skis for Christmas. And he was ready to break them in at the third and fourth graders’ school trip to Lake Poketoe. This would be the very first time he used them.

“You’ll have to teach me,” Frank said. “I doubt I’ll be as good as you.”

Ellie Freeman’s head popped up over the seat in front of them. She was wearing her Bayport Bandits T-shirt. She was on their baseball team, and she liked wearing the uniform even when she didn’t have to. “You promised to teach me too,” she said, looking at Joe. “I want to learn how to do a flip!”